Tree Trimming

Crews from John's Tree Service will be here July 5-11 to do general trimming and tree debris clean up.

Exterior Painting Almost Finished

The association-wide exterior painting project is entering its finals stages as painters finish units on Lake Terrace Drive..

All exterior painting should be completed this summer.

Requests for Change - Why We Need Them

All changes to the common area or unit exterior require a Request for Change.

Why?

• Because these changes can cause issues for the association as a whole, and for your neighbors, in particular. If a unit owner makes an unapproved DIY change, there is a chance that poor carftsmanship or cheap materials may result in code violations, damage to your shared unit structure, to inconvenience, or to accidents that cost us all.
• Because you do not own the common area alone. It belongs to all residents equally.
• Because you think it is a great Idea. But something that is appealing to you may not be at all apealing to your neighbors.
• Because structural changes may require permits and inspections.

Common Excuses:

• But I'm just ________. Go ahead, fill in the blank.
• Some residents feel that their project is somehow exempt for the following reasons:____________, ____________, _________ Go ahead, fill in the blanks.
• I shouldn't have to file a Request for Change just to____________. Go ahead, fill in the blank.

Here's how the Request for Change process works.

• Please fill out the Request for Change completely, and sign it. Requests for Change that are not signed by the unit owner will not be considered. NOTE: The Board is less likely to approve any request that is short on specific details, and may return it to the unit owner for clarification.
• Any Requests for Change that involve structural changes, repairs, or additions (e.g. decks, doors, and windows) require detailed drawings/explanations. Where needed, the project must also be submitted to the city for permits and inspections.
• Please submit all Requests for Change to the management company at least one month before the project is to begin (two months is better); if an expedited vote is needed for special circumstances, please specify the reasons—in detail—to the property manager when making your request. Do so in writing. 
• The property manager gathers all Requests for Change as they are received, and then adds them to the agenda for the next scheduled meeting. The Board meets monthly (except in May).
• The Board may elect at its discretion to review and vote on a Request for Change between meetings. The Board discourages this approach: by Ohio law, all email votes require unanimous Board approval; a motion to approve a Request for Change at a regular Board meeting can pass with a simple majority.
• There are 111 units in our Association. Your request is probably not the only one the Board is asked to review and approve at any given time. 
• Download your Request for Change Form here.

Cleaning Mold from Stucco

It isn't feasible for the association to clean away all mold accumulations on shaded stucco areas as quickly as they grow. Shaded walls grow green gunkies at an astounding rate, especially when it's hot and humid.

Unit owners who find the green fuzz unsightly can clean it away by simply spraying the affected areas with a prepared mold removal liquid (available from department and home improvement stores), followed by gentle scrubbing with a soft bristle brush, and rinsing with a garden hose spray.

An effective and cost effective mold cleaner can also be mixed from household items that commonly include chlorine bleach, a squeeze of dish detergent, and a dash of borax.

Here's a link to a more detailed explanation that includes different recipes and mixing ratios for your home made brew. (Scroll straight to Part 2 of the article for mixing and cleaning instructions.)

Just be sure to wear protective clothing, including gloves and glasses, long sleeves and pants, and make sure the bleach solution doesn't damage desirable plants, pets, or other belongings.

The Help Button and the Unit Owner Portal

The red Help button at the upper right of the web site home page now links to the APM Portal. Now, when you click on the button, you'll be directed to the Portal gateway page where you can log in to your personal account (if you have already registered), or register to set up a new account.

The Help button has been in place for some time now as a fast way to make a maintenance request, but the new link provides additional information and services to unit owners. Moreover, we have welcomed several new residents to our community in the past year, so the Help button will be new to some of you.

If you have a maintenance request, simply click on the maintenance tab after logging in, fill out the request form, and click on the submit button when done.

The Portal offers additional features compared to the old maintenance request form: while you are logged in, you can also review and edit your personal contact information, make payments, view the payment status of your account, and access other features, some of which may be added in the future.

If you are uncertain about how to proceed, or have questions or a problem, call APM at 330 722 3000, or email .

New residents may have aditional questions about Portal. Please see the next article, originally published in August 2017, for a Portal Q&A.

Thanks

Clothes Dryer Vent Cleaning

Clothes dryers should have their vents and vent pipes inspected and cleaned at least annually. Heavily used dryers may require more frequent cleaning.

The accompanying image shows a two-year accumulation of lint removed from a smooth-walled vent pipe connected to a gas dryer in one of our units. The amount of lint removed from this 10-foot length of pipe is substantial.

Ribbed accordion-style flex hoses are even less forgiving, since the ribbed walls catch and accumulate lint deposits even faster than smooth-walled pipe. Common complaints of lint buildup include reduced dryer efficiency (more time needed to dry the clothes). Heat backup in the dryer due to poor venting can also burn out thermal overload fuses in dryers, shutting them down completely.

In some cases, lint accumulations result in house fires.

Whether you do the work yourself, or hire a contractor to clean them for you, dryer vents demand periodic attention to ensure safe, efficient dryer operation.